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Residents of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky want to express their concerns about the current state of America, and they expect their elected members of Congress to put party aside and listen. That much was made clear through the scores of emails that have flooded the newsroom for the past week.

The Enquirer editorial board had been hearing about your difficulties reaching your representatives in Washington, so we offered to help by publishing your letters to them. You can read a number of those letters below, and because of the overwhelming response, we will continue publishing them in upcoming letters to the editor.

The most frequent theme was your frustration with elected leaders' refusal to hold in-person town halls and their slow response – or non-response – to phone calls, emails and handwritten or typed letters. You also didn't like them passing you off to staffers.

"You owe us the decency to meet with all of us, face to face, to answer our burning questions," wrote Amy Alexander of College Hill.

The issues you seemed to care most about were the Affordable Care Act and the Trump administration's ties to the Russian government.

"The American public deserves to know the truth," said Kristin Mullin of Union Township. "How many times was Benghazi investigated?"

Some of you, such as Susan Bonner of Cleves, wanted your representative to hold strong in the face of protests. She urged Rep. Steve Chabot to repeal Obamacare, simplify the tax code, and make it easier for small businesses to grow and prosper.

"I urge you in the strongest possible terms to enthusiastically support the president's agenda," Mike Emerine of Cold Spring wrote in a letter to Sens. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul.

Other recurring issues were the proposed travel ban, the rise in acts of hate, the environment, the perceived dismantling of education and other federal agencies, abortion/Planned Parenthood, and President Trump's rhetoric and Cabinet picks.

"I just wanted to let you know that you can never really take away a woman's choice," Debra Tarter of Monfort Heights wrote to Chabot. "What you can try to take away is our constitutional right to a safe medical procedure. Do not defund Planned Parenthood."

This editorial board calls on our local senators and congressmen to answer their constituents. Just as we have provided space for readers to express their views, we now offer our elected officials space to respond. We strongly believe the people deserve it.

Remember your duty is to the people, not your party

Holly End(Photo: Provided)

I wish I could tell Congressman Brad Wenstrup and Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown that I do not expect them to agree with me on every issue, and I have no intention of screaming at individuals who have pledged their lives to public service. I am grateful. However, I do expect them to protect the universal values that make this country what it is – freedom of the press, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, tolerance, equality, honesty. I don't understand how any of these things can be politicized.

I believe you to be smart and good. Don't lose that. Don't allow the safety nets that protect Ohioans (the EPA, Dodd-Frank, the free press) to be dismantled. Make sure that whatever replaces the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will help more people in better ways, not fewer. Remind yourself that your duty is to your people, not your party.

Holly End, Pleasant Ridge

Wenstrup is keeping his promise to voters

Kyle Kirker(Photo: Provided)

I wish I could tell my congressman, U.S. Representative Brad Wenstrup, to stay the course and repeal the Affordable Care Act. The pro-Obamacare voices may be the loudest at the moment, but what matters is who was loudest on Election Day. As a representative, Wenstrup has a responsibility to represent the majority of the district, not the loudest of the district. He has been running on repealing Obamacare since 2012. Cincinnati Democrats may not like it, but the majority of the Second District voted for him based on that promise. Wenstrup won 65 percent of the vote, while the pro-Obamacare candidate only won 33 percent.

By continuing to support a repeal-and-replace of the Affordable Care Act, Brad is merely keeping his promise to the majority of the district.

Kyle Kirker, Union Township, Clermont County

We need to address homegrown terrorism

Scott Glum(Photo: Provided)

To Sen. Rob Portman and Rep. Brad Wenstrup: What are you going to do about the emboldened terrorists already in our country who are calling in bomb threats to schools, desecrating Jewish cemeteries, burning mosques and shooting Indian engineers working in Kansas? Can you explain how “the wall” and the president’s proposed increase in defense spending will protect us from the homegrown terrorism already happening?

Scott Glum, Blue Ash

No more taking us for granted, Congressman Chabot

Steven L. Corson(Photo: Provided)

Congressman Steve Chabot, you are MIA. For years you have taken us for granted and maybe to some degree, we have taken your representation for granted by not demanding more of you. Well, no more.

You see, the current administration has me more concerned for the health and prosperity of our nation than at any other time in my life. Our president condemns the pillars of strength and stability that our nation was founded on. We cannot be a nation the world envies when our values and what we stand for are trampled on by our president. We cannot live up to the ideals of our founding fathers when our president conducts diplomacy by tweet. We cannot ensure that our government is accountable to the rule of law and that our politicians are leading with integrity when our president condemns the press and depicts facts and truths as made-up falsehoods.

The very existence of our great nation depends on an independent press. We must demand, support and encourage the press to shine the light of truth into the darkest corners of our government. It is only through truth that we will survive as a nation of free people.

Steven L. Corson, Delhi Township

Respect for our American values must prevail

Sylvia Pacheco McGuire(Photo: Provided)

To Sen. Rob Portman and U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson: Most recognize America is a nation of immigrants. Most recognize their own story or the stories of their parents and grandparents as immigrants.

America embraced diversity, but after the last election, a very vocal minority is against it. Discrimination was trending down. Now hate crimes are rising. This administration highlights the few negative effects of some immigrants while denying the immeasurable positive contributions to our nation. The current hate and racial tensions were not provoked from within our families or neighborhoods. This hate was conceived by politicians promoting hate to spread like cancer.

Our country was founded and became great because of immigrants continuously contributing. The idea of the American Dream, recognized in every corner of the Earth, made us great. We must return to our basic American values. That we are all equal. That we should all be able to contribute to our families, communities, economy. Talent and the willingness to work hard are what counts. Without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, country of origin. Banning Muslims and refugees goes against America. Broken and inhumane immigration laws, deporting hard-working parents, and breaking up families goes against America. Let the respect for our American values prevail.

Sylvia Pacheco McGuire, West Chester

Be courageous enough to hold 'real' town halls

Nancy Averett(Photo: Provided)

I wish I could tell my congressman and senators that I don't want to lose the Affordable Care Act. I believe there are more Ohioans that support the ACA than oppose it, and I believe my congressman, U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup, and one of my senators, Rob Portman, are determined to dismantle it simply for partisan reasons. I wish I could tell them to act more like leaders and represent all of their constituents, not just their base.

I also wish they would be courageous enough to hold real town halls where constituents can ask them questions instead of "tele-town halls" where they pre-select the topic and who gets to ask them questions. This is not democracy.

Nancy Averett, Wyoming

All life should be sacred, not just when it comes to abortion

Kim Dinan(Photo: Provided)

Rep. Brad Wenstrup: You co-sponsored H.R. 7 that, among other things, prohibits qualified health plans offered on the ACA exchange from providing coverage for abortions because you "believe all life is scared." If you truly believe all life is sacred, please explain why this does not include the lives of immigrants and refugees fleeing war, famine and other threats to survival, since you are on the record as supporting Trump's unconstitutional travel ban. If you believe all life is sacred, how can you in good conscious support the repeal of the Affordable Care Act when some of your constituents will die without the health care they receive under the ACA? Likewise, you oppose stronger gun control (you have an A ranking from the NRA) even though 93 Americans are killed with guns each day – are the lives of the victims of gun violence not sacred to you?

Kim Dinan, Hyde Park

Investigate President Trump's ties to the Russian government

Beth Ruehl(Photo: Provided)

Rep. Warren Davidson: I am a very concerned constituent. I beg of you, on behalf of thousands of voters, to appoint a bipartisan committee to investigate our president and his staff's ties to the Russian government. There is so much evidence, and the public demands transparency. Please stand up on our behalf. I plead with you and other Republicans to stand up for the people you represent and not follow this president when he goes against America and her people. Please be our voice.

Beth Ruehl, Liberty Township

Eliminating the Department of Education puts children at risk

Stan Heck(Photo: Provided)

Congressman Thomas Massie wants to get the federal government out of our schools. You are too young, congressman, to remember that decades ago, intellectually disabled children were not given special assistance in our schools, but instead were warehoused in state homes where they learned little to nothing.

But now the Department of Education mandates that all children who are autistic, learning disabled or in need of speech therapy are given free and appropriate public education in their neighborhood schools. Federal monies pay for special services to all these students. Doing away with the Department of Education, as you advocate, puts the education of 2 million children at risk. Eighty percent of college students get grants or loans from the Department of Education. Doing away with the department puts all those college students at risk for being unable to afford to go to college.

Please put the needs of our students first and reject the idea of eliminating the Department of Education.

Stan Heck, Fort Wright

What President Trump says matters as much as what he does

Sheila Benner(Photo: Provided)

To House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell: As a lifelong Republican, I am having tremendous difficulty with Donald Trump. People in Congress like you tell me not to pay any attention to what he says – focus on what he does. As a communications professional and an American inspired by what our forefathers have said, that is asking too much.

I also observe that what he does best to this point is keep the spotlight on himself by saying and tweeting outrageous and inflammatory things – about women, about minorities, about the press, about longtime allies such as Mexico, Australia, Sweden and France. Ironically, it turns out that what he does best is say a lot of stuff, much of it untrue. It is so hurtful to watch congressmen like you look the other way while our country becomes an international punchline.

It's as if a purse thief jumps on a bus in New York, starts assailing a passenger and everyone just looks at their newspapers. Please, look up. Step up and be counted if this unpresidential behavior continues. Be ready, in short, to stand up for the truth that what an American president says does matter – especially when it will be translated into other languages.

Sheila Case Benner, East End

Stop worrying about 'fake news' and start worrying about fake science

John Lorenz(Photo: Provided)

To Rep. Brad Wenstrup and Sens. Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown: From recent experience, local U.S.-based jobs in STEM fields can have difficulty recruiting U.S. citizens. Job applications submitted by recent graduates from foreign countries often outnumber applications from the United States. Agencies whose purpose is in part to further science and technology education and research in the U.S. (Departments of Energy, Education, NSF, etc. and yes this would include the EPA) are best suited to remedy this. But they are under threat to lose funding under the Trump administration if money is not funneled to research that aligns with the administration politically. These agencies are also being headed by people with no technical expertise in the fields they are overseeing.

Please stop worrying about “fake news” and start worrying about fake science, or the U.S. will lose the jobs that are most important to the long-term stability of our economy and country.

John Lorenz, Loveland

Senator Portman, stand up and help impeach Trump

Paul Gibby(Photo: Provided)

To Sen. Rob Portman: I told you in person that I appreciated when you stood up for your gay son in the face of some public disapproval. Now it is time for you to stand up for American values and help impeach Donald Trump. His lies, declaration of war on journalism, business entanglements and tax evasion are unprecedented. Trump and his associates represent a serious threat to democracy in America. Please do the right thing again. Thanks.

Paul Gibby, Terrace Park

We need legislators who will act now to protect our environment

Deanna Spatz(Photo: Provided)

To Rep. Steve Chabot: I waited an hour for you to take my question at your phone conference. I waited for days afterward for you to respond to my message. I am still waiting. While I wait, the sea is rising, coral reefs are dying, glaciers are melting, and daffodils are blooming in February. We need action. We need a fully funded EPA, adoption of the Clean Power Plan, and adherence to our pledge at the Paris agreement. We need legislators who will protect our air, waters and the earth. We need them now.

Deanna Spatz, Sharonville

Keep enthusiastically supporting President Trump's agenda

Michael Emerine(Photo: Provided)

To Sens. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul: As your constituent in the great commonwealth of Kentucky, I urge you in the strongest possible terms to enthusiastically support the president's agenda, and energetically act to confirm his Cabinet and judicial nominees. Please support and pass legislation to enact the following presidential policy priorities:

These are also the priorities of your constituents, senators. Recall that in the recent election, 118 of the 120 counties in the commonwealth voted overwhelmingly for President Trump. Do not be misled now by loud, violent, disruptive and disrespectful protests being organized by a desperate opposition. Your constituents firmly spoke their policy preferences on Nov. 8.

Mike Emerine, Cold Spring

Free-market ideology doesn't work for health care

Libby Earle(Photo: Provided)

To Sens. Rob Portman, Sherrod Brown and Rep. Warren Davidson: Congress, there’s no such thing as a “free market” health care system. Health care is not a commodity where prices are freely set by agreement between consumer and provider.

The sick consumer is a coerced buyer – he has neither the time nor expertise to shop for or evaluate need services. Nor is he free under the current system to choose the service as it is often dictated by his insurance. The consumer is unable to negotiate pricing in a non-transparent system. Costs are often regarded as proprietary and determined by the elusive "chargemaster," which will assign charges, and charge the uninsured more. Prices for drugs are allowed to be “what the market will bear” while pharmaceutical companies are allowed to pay generic manufacturers not to make their off-patent drug. The many insurance providers are too small to negotiate with the mega health care conglomerates.

Every other industrialized nation regards health care as a regulated utility where costs are contained by regulation and elimination of bloated administrative and marketing costs. The only thing from stopping Congress from giving us a single-payer system – a plan that works – is blind obedience to an ideology that does not work for health care.

Libby Earle, Fairfield Township

Congress is focused on the wrong things when it comes to the Affordable Care Act

Michaela Little(Photo: Provided)

To Sen. Rob Portman and Rep. Warren Davidson: Don't repeal the ACA. It keeps my family healthy. It's the only viable source of health insurance for my 3-year-old daughter and my husband. It's working for our family better than the system in place before the ACA.

Please understand that HSAs only work for folks with extra income. They aren't a viable option for the folks in poverty, the working poor or many considered middle class. I agree that many things about our health care system need to change, but you are focused on the wrong stuff. Please put politics aside and do what's best for your constituents. Be honest with yourself and stand up to big health care and make Ohio healthier. A healthy state is a better state!

To Rep. Brad Wenstrup: After the election, most of your constituents were confident that Congress would provide the necessary checks and balances to rein in President Trump’s foolish and destructive impulses. However, we are over five weeks into Trump’s unstable presidency, and you have yet to oppose a single policy, statement, action or even tweet of his – and there is plenty worth opposing.

As of today, you have no open public events scheduled for us to voice our concerns, yet you have plenty of time to meet with campaign donors face to face. Even more insulting was the unscheduled telephone town hall you hosted during dinnertime on a weeknight. Your staff conveniently pre-screened questions so no one could hold you accountable for your complicit silence.

In 2012 you rode the coattails of the tea party all the way to Washington. Your primary win was unexpected but not surprising since the grassroots tea party swept the nation. Perhaps you have forgotten what happens when unhappy constituents organize and demand to be heard, which is concerning considering your political career is the direct result of such a movement. Ironically, it may also be your demise.